SHALOM – orange-red park rose - Poulsen
Step outside to meet ‘Shalom’, a tall, easy-going shrub rose that glows in vivid orange-red, bringing cheerful light to Irish cottage borders and compact front gardens even when summer is short and skies are soft. Semi-double, open blooms offer simple beauty for bees, while the upright, leafy framework creates gentle structure that anchors mixed beds and narrow urban plots alike. On its own roots it settles in steadily for a long lifetime, regrowing reliably from the base and keeping its ornamental value year after year with only modest care. Plant once, mulch well for drainage on heavier soils, and enjoy a long season of repeat flowers that colour the garden in shifting sunset tones. In a large 40–50 litre pot or in the ground, give it room to develop, remembering that roots establish first, then strong shoots, and finally full impact from about the third year – a quietly satisfying, low-fuss companion for everyday outdoor moments.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Feature shrub in a small family garden |
The tall, upright habit and dense dark foliage give clear vertical presence without demanding constant pruning, so one plant can act as a gentle focal point near a patio or lawn, suiting those who like structure with minimal effort for the busy homeowner. |
| Long-season cottage-style border |
Remontant flowering provides generous second flushes, so beds keep their colour well beyond the first bloom, blending easily with perennials in that relaxed, “girly” cottage style while you simply deadhead occasionally, ideal for the hobby gardener. |
| Pollinator-friendly mixed planting |
Semi-double cups and accessible stamens make this rose moderately attractive to visiting bees, adding movement and gentle ecological value among companion perennials without complicated maintenance, appealing to the nature-lover. |
| Low-fuss city front garden hedge |
Its robust park-rose background and moderate disease resistance cope well with damp, breezy Irish streets where air movement and rainfall are frequent, requiring only occasional protection, which works well for the urban gardener. |
| Own-root, long-lived garden investment |
Being grown on its own roots means it can renew from the base, stays true to type and avoids graft failures, giving a stable, maturing shrub that rewards patient planting over many years, reassuring for the long-term planner. |
| Colour accent in heavy Irish soils |
The sturdy shrub framework and strong root system respond well if you prepare a well-drained hole and mulch, letting it settle and then build top growth reliably, even where clay is common, suiting the practically minded beginner. |
| Large container planting on terraces |
In a 40–50 litre or larger container, its upright habit, glossy foliage and repeated flushes of orange-red flowers create a vertical accent near doors or seating, with simple watering and feeding routines, ideal for the balcony owner. |
| Soft seasonal backdrop for family spaces |
From tight deep orange-red buds to bronzed orange-pink fading blooms, the colour shifts gently through the season, giving a relaxed, ever-changing background that looks good from windows or paths with little intervention, pleasing the visual romantic. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Glow – weave ‘Shalom’ through an Irish cottage border with airy yarrow and soft grasses for a glowing, storybook feel – perfect for nostalgic garden dreamers.
- Urban-Welcome – line a short Dublin front path with a loose row of shrubs for structure and colour that stays tidy without fussy clipping – ideal for busy city homeowners.
- Sunset-Pot – place one plant in a 40–50 litre terracotta container by the door, underplanted with dwarf coral bells, to greet you with shifting sunset tones – great for small-porch dwellers.
- Family-Backdrop – use a loose group at the back of a play lawn to frame swings or seating with soft, repeating colour that looks cared-for with little effort – suited to young families.
- Wild-Edge – blend with white blazing star and low yarrow along a sunny boundary for a gentle, pollinator-friendly strip that bridges lawn and wilder planting – appealing to nature-focused gardeners.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Shrub park rose marketed as Shalom, registered as POULsha, in the shrub group; commercial designation Shalom Park - shrub rose POULsha, ARS exhibition name Shalom for show and catalogue use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Niels Dines Poulsen, Poulsen Roser A/S, Denmark, from 'Korona' seedling × 'Korona' seedling; bred 1972, registered and introduced 1973 by Poulsen Roser A/S into wider European horticulture. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, park-style shrub rose reaching about 150–210 cm high and 80–120 cm wide, moderately thorny, with dense, glossy, dark green foliage forming a substantial, leafy framework in borders or hedging uses. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, cupped, cluster-flowered blooms, typically 13–25 petals and 7–10 cm across, produced in repeated flushes through the season, offering good stamen access in each cluster along the stems. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Closed buds deep orange-red; open flowers vivid orange-red with salmon sheen, later softening toward orange-pink with slight bronze; outer petals RHS 34A, inner 33B, with moderate stability and graceful fading. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
No noticeable fragrance recorded; grown primarily for its strong colour display and structural presence rather than scent, making it suitable where visual effect is prioritised over perfume in the planting scheme. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces sparse, small ovoid hips about 8–12 mm across, orange-red RHS 40A when formed, adding modest late-season interest but not a major ornamental or wildlife feature of this cultivar. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately -21 to -18 °C (USDA 6b, RHS H7, Swedish zone 3); moderate resistance to black spot, mildew and rust, benefits from good air circulation, watering and occasional plant protection in damp seasons. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny sites for beds, parks, hedging or as a specimen; spacing 80–150 cm depending on use, mass planting 1.2–1.4 plants/m²; moderate maintenance, regular watering in drought and seasonal pruning advised. |
SHALOM – orange-red park rose - Poulsen offers tall structure, long-season colour and pollinator-friendly blooms on a resilient own-root shrub, a thoughtful choice if you’d like lasting impact from a single, reliable planting.
